Warning: I’m about to make some gross generalisations about an entire breed of dogs. I usually try to avoid this sort of thing because some whippets are skinny and timid and others seem like they have had way too much red cordial. But…. there are some things that all whippets have in common. I’m sure that there are many whippet mama’s and papa’s out there who know exactly what I mean.
Doona lovers
There are few things a whippet loves more than curling up or stretching out under a warm blanket or doona. No self-respecting whippet mama would ever leave a whippet outside or expect his or her fur child to sleep in a dog house.No,no,no. The bed, the couch, the recliner – all belong to the whippet (in the whippet’s mind at least) and it is up to the human to negotiate a spot. To demonstrate..
Zoomies
Whippets are fast, really, really fast. And agile, turning corners and changing direction at speed. They can baulk and pivot like a basketball player on speed! But they are not in it for the long haul. Whippets love to take off at speed and zoom around like crazy before coming back for some pats and praise.
Whippets love to do zoomies on grass but they will happily do them anywhere there is enough space and someone to run with, from or after. Like the beach….
Bitey face
Lots of dogs play and indulge in a bit of rough and tumble – it’s all part of puppydom, which can last years for some dogs!! Whippets enjoy running and trying to rumble or even body-slam each other mid run.
They also like a bit of Bitey-face. This sounds a bit vicious but is actually pretty harmless, good-natured play. Whippets will also do bitey-face play with non-whippets, particularly puppies with furry faces because there is more for them to latch onto!
Warning: other dog owners at the park may well be freaked out by this play and respond in this way………
Whipnosis
This is the ability of whippets to stare into the eyes of captive humans until they are rewarded with food, hugs or declarations of undying love. Mainly food. Despite being skinny dogs, whippets LOVE food and will shadow you and stare until you are whipnotised into giving them whatever they want!
Gang ties
Whippets are like peanuts, its hard to stop at just one. I had to get a friend for my whippet Lawson because he HATED being alone. I know this, because he ate my wicker furniture, my wooden blind (three times!) and my window frame. Enter lurcher Millie and no more damage.
Whippets love to run in packs or at least duos. They love to cuddle up with another fur buddy (when they can’t cuddle with their whippet mama) and they can be very competitive for both food and affection. Lawson became a LOT less fussy about his food once Millie entered the frame.
That is not to say that you can’t have an only child; some whippets are fine that way but they do need the company of humans instead or they will get very naughty indeed!
Roaching
Roaching is a common sighthound behaviour, not limited to whippets. Greyhounds are artistes when it comes lying on their back like cockroaches! It is possibly the least elegant thing you will ever see but I dare any whippet mama or papa to resist the temptation to rub those smooth, hairless bellies….
Bendy nose
Another unique sighthound manoeuver is to sleep on their snozzes so that they bend in half. It does not look comfortable at all but they love it! Whippets have odd snozzes that have a bendy end which enables them to strike all sorts of silly poses.
I am sure that there is a perfectly reasonable explanation for this behaviour – please let me know if you have any theories!
Yoga masters
Whippets, like many other sighthounds, are flexible. They could beat anyone at Twister and are the yoga masters of the doggy world. This makes life difficult when you have to put a cone on their heads after an injury because they can still reach! When Millie got hit by a car I had to put multiple round pillows around her neck to stop her reaching the wounds. See below for evidence…..
Shadows
Whippets love company and they love to know what their mama or papa is up to at all times. Opening a door? Where you going? Opening a cupboard? what we eating now? Opening a package? Treats? Putting shoes on? Where we going? Going to the toilet? Not on your own you’re not!
Sundogs
You may have noticed that whippets are a little light on the fluffiness, particularly on their bellies. there is a perfectly good reason for this – as racing dogs, having a bald belly helps them to release heat quickly. The problem is that most whippets now are not racers (except in their own minds and twitchy dreams) but rather, lazy members of the doona brigade.
This why whippets (and greyhounds) will seek out any patch of sunlight that they can find and bask in the warmth until they are in danger of melting. My whippet Lawson was so desperate to find some sun to sit in one winter that he leapt onto the laundry hamper which was in a sunny spot, and promptly fell in!
Millie and Lawson are happy to share sun beds but prefer their own where they can stretch out into a typical roach position.
And so there you have part one of the whippet personality and behaviour. Keep tuned for part two when I will discuss the other idiosyncrasies that make whippets so weird and awesome.
x
Whippet Mama 